Warning: Pharrell Williams’s latest music video is contagious. In it, the foot-tapping song “Happy” is brought to life with people taking turns to dance on the streets of Los Angeles, seemingly without a care in the world.

Released in early December, the video has already inspired copycats in Paris. Now it has caught on in Hong Kong:

The original version, a 24-hour interactive music video produced by Clement Durou and Pierre Dupaquier of We Are From L.A., is made up of 400 ordinary people showing off their dance moves. Hidden among them are Magic Johnson, Steve Carell, Kelly Osbourne, Tyler, the Creator and others. Pharrell appears 24 times, at the top of every hour. Scrolling around the 24-hour clock, viewers can seamlessly skip around to different times and locations, without interrupting the flow of music. If you don’t have a day to spare, you can catch the four-minute cut.

The video is shot simply, with each dancer filmed in a single take using just one steadicam. The approach inspired freelance video reporter Hélène Franchineau, 29, to do her own take.

“I loved the concept and thought it was a great way to showcase a city,” she said. “I thought, why not do the same with Hong Kong? It is a very visual city.”

With the help of freelance videographer Edwin Lee and a couple of friends as assistants, Ms. Franchineau shot Hong Kong’s version of “Happy” in dozens of locations over 10 hours with more than 60 dancers. From the Happy Valley race course to Maxims dim sum restaurant to the neon lights of Mongkok, the dancers turned heads wherever they were filmed.

Alex Ogle

A horsey character turns heads.

Several WSJ editors caught the dancing bug. Below, they shared their experiences of being in front of the camera.—Diana Jou

Maya Pope-Chappell, Social Media & Analytics Editor

When I first heard about a “Happy” video being shot in Hong Kong, I assumed that Pharrell Williams would be there in the flesh. I envisioned steadicams, lights and Skateboard P fitted in a quirky button-down shirt, shorts and Vans sneakers.

I headed to the city’s Yau Ma Tei district to meet Diana Jou, a multimedia editor at the Journal, but Pharrell was nowhere to be found. That’s because this was a remake of his “Happy” video—a Hong Kong take on the one that had already been created in Paris.

My excitement deflated, giving way to nervousness. Did we really have to dance?

“Yes, of course!” Diana said.

As we walked over to the fruit market where a portion of the video was going to be shot, I began to wrap my mind around the prospect of dancing in the streets among complete strangers. Somehow, the randomness of the idea delighted me.

Next thing I knew, I was dancing on the sidewalk alongside oranges, durians and leafy vegetables. People were staring, holding up their phones to record the flash mob composed of a camera crew, a guy in a horse mask, Diana in a Chinese opera mask and myself, hands up in the air, feet shifting from side to side, moving to the beat without a care.

At one point, we danced around a red taxi that was pulling out of a park. The driver just smiled.

After the four-minute song ended, I realized my nervousness had disappeared. Instead, I felt exhilarated, out of breath and, sure enough, happy.

Thomas DiFonzo, Multimedia Editor

I arrived at 1881 Heritage, a shopping mall complex converted from a former marine police headquarters, dressed in a purple jumper and yellow socks. I’d only listened to Pharrell’s “Happy” a handful of times, but to take part in a video while dancing against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s amazing streets was just too good a proposition to turn down.

My slot included six people, and I was the first one up. The director, Hélène, asked me to approach a group of students posing in their graduation gowns and encourage them to start dancing with me. They did!

That helped take the focus away from me, but it only lasted for a minute. Moments later I was directed to break away, leaving me alone to glide through crowds of shoppers. I concentrated on moving in time to music I couldn’t hear properly while at the same time looking happy — very, very happy.

Hong Kong is one of the most cinematic cities out there — just ask Wong Kar-wai. It contains two contrasting worlds: grimy, dimly lit market stalls and the most extravagant shopping centers. I couldn’t pass up the chance to dance around the 100-year-old Yau Ma Tei fruit stalls.

I asked Maya [Pope-Chappell] to be my partner-in-crime. I brought with me a mask inspired by the painted faces of Chinese opera singers. It’s bright pink and it has the ultimate sad face. It was the perfect odd prop for this video.

We started the song off with Maya leap-frogging over my head. Then we went full-out dancing despite not being able to hear the song very well. At one point I took off my mask and did a cartwheel. A Hong Kong taxi backed into our dance space, so we took it as a chance to drum on the hood of the car.

Everywhere we went, we found people looking at us, smiling, some even laughing. It’s true what they say about happiness. The key to being happy is making others happy, and there’s no better way than dancing in the street.

Helene Franchineau

A screenshot from ‘Happy’

Henry Williams, Multimedia Editor

I can’t dance.

I know this because I spent my weekend gyrating (there is no better word for it) along the shoreline of the West Kowloon Cultural District. My dance partner, Wendy Tang, a fellow journalist, looked amazing in her finest red Chinese dress. I was dressed in a red checked button-down shirt, and blue jeans. I stood out, at least. Red is meant to be lucky in China – I was certainly lucky that I didn’t fall in to the sea, but that’s about as far as my luck went.

Wendy and I began our routine almost immediately after arriving by the water. Having watched Pharrell’s “Happy” the day before, I was confident I knew what I had to do: dance for about five seconds, look happy, and mime along to the music. It was not to be: I had to dance for the entire length of the song – over four full minutes!

I definitely can’t dance.

Trying to look cool, we began walking along the pier with the camera just about 10 feet in front of us. We tried spins, jumps, and extravagant hand gestures. We finally got ourselves in a rhythm with each other, did one more jump, and then the music stopped. Too late to be cool.

Comments (5 of 7)

One of the most fun videos I have ever seen. Hooked on 'Happy'. Watch it almost every day to get, well, happy. Kudos to all the dancers. Have watched all the renditions and believe Hong Kong has done the best job thus far. Hope that OKC can come through with our own. Video made me want to visit Hong Kong. Hope this Happy movement continues. Keep 'em coming and we'll keep watching. BTW - Diane Jou is too cute.

I absolutely love "Happy", and this is a brilliant concept to showcase the city, where I was born & raised. Much much needed a change in the music scene. Pharrell bringin' hip hop scene forefront to Hong Kong.

10:58 am January 14, 2014

jose hernani m. parco wrote:

oh excuse me, there's always a gathering of Filipina household workers in Chater Square and there are a lot of them who can really dance! you missed it!

11:55 am January 13, 2014

Anonymous wrote:

some of the dancers look really fake and unnatural compared to the original by pharrel. I think they should focus more on trying to exude their happy emotion in their dance than trying to look good in front of the camera.